It was authored by state Reps. Mark McBride (R-District 53) and Jon Echols (R-District 90). HJR1092 would allow voters to decide whether to fund storm shelters by raising property taxes.

Democratic lawmakers called the bill a smoke screen. State Rep. Richard Morrissette (D-District 92) said his Take Shelter plan would be the logical way to fund storm shelters because it would not raise taxes.

"What I don't understand is why the governor and the folks around her in the Republican leadership and the legislature have not embraced Rep. Dorman’s and my plan to do the exact same thing and not raise ad valorem taxes," he said.

Morrissette said it boils down to politics.

"It's being promoted by Democrats," he said. "That's the problem."

According to Morrissette, property taxes could increase on average by 30 percent.

"It is a major tax increase being promoted by a governor that has a platform that government works best with lower taxes," he said.

Morrissette also argued that most school districts are bonded to capacity and would not be able to get storm shelters.

However, McBride said this should be left to voters in individual districts to decide.

He also disagreed with the 30 percent increase estimate, saying it is high.

HJR1092 will now head to the full Oklahoma House of Representatives for a vote.

THE DEBATE OVER HOW TO PAY FOR STORM SHELTERS IS HEATING UP. A DEMOCRATIC STATE REPRESENTATIVE SAYS A PLAN THAT JUST PASSED OUT OF COMMITTEE COULD RAISE YOUR PROPERTY TAXES. K-O-C-O'S MICHAEL SEIDEN IS LIVE AT THE CAPITOL THIS MORNING. MICHAEL.. THAT REP PREDICTS PROPERTY TAXES COULD RISE NEARLY 30 PERCENT. THE REPUBLICAN BILL WOULD LEAVE IT UP TO VOTERS WHETHER TO PAY FOR STORM SHELTERS. DEMOCRATS...ON THE OTHER HAND...WANT TO DIVERT FRANCHISE TAX MONEY TO COVER THE COST. THEY SAY... POLITICS ASIDE...STORM SHELTERS IN SCHOOLS NEED TO BE A PRIORITY. What I don't understand is why the governor and the folks around her in the Republican leadership and the legislature have not embraced Representative Dorman's and mine plan to do the exact same thing and not raise ad velorum taxes. THE DEMOCRATIC "TAKE SHELTER" PLAN IS CURRENTLY HELD UP IN A LEGAL BATTLE. THEY'LL PRESENT THEIR CASE TO THE SUPREME COURT AT THE END OF THE MONTH. SIG OUT.